Patent GB-889740-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to popping kernels
IPC: A23L1/18
Filed: 1959-04-17
Abstract: 889,740. Popping kernels. GENERAL FOODS CORPORATION. April 17, 1959 [April 21, 1958], No. 13136/59. Class 58. An automatic corn kernel popping machine for continuously producing seasoned and salted popped corn of uniform quality, comprises, Fig. 1, a popping device 36 having an openended duct 44 mounted within a jar 42 on top of an illuminated glass-sided display case 30. By means of a blower 162 and heater 164, Fig. 2, hot gas is continually recirculated through duct 44, entering at a point just below that at which raw unpopped kernels from a hopper 34 are fed in by a screw conveyer 76 operated by a motor 106. The kernels are air keyed upwardly to form an agitated suspended bed in a popping chamber 124, consisting of an enlarged portion of duct 44, and housing thermosensitive switches, e.g. 134, which respectively control the rate at which motor 106 operates to feed raw kernels to the bed and the maximum temperature reached therein. After popping, the popped kernels of reduced density are carried upwardly and out of the duct by the flow of hot gas, and fall, via shoot 181, on to a tray 192 where liquid seasoning for a device 38, and salt from a metering device 270, is applied, and mixed in by rotating arms 206 in the tray, seasoned and salted kernels falling therefrom to form a mass 54 in the bottom of the case 30 from which portions may be scooped out for consumption. The hot gas is withdrawn, through screen 186, from the downwardly falling popped kernels and is fed back, via duct 116, to the blower and heater for recirculation. In operation the machine works in cycles of, say fifteen minutes, there being an initial warm-up stage of approximately ten minutes, after throwing the main switch to " on ", before thermoswitch 134 senses that popping temperature has been reached in chamber 124 and brings motor 106 into operation to feed in raw kernels, whilst simultaneously energizing seasoning solenoid valve 230 and salt feed motor 286 to season and salt the popped corn at a rate in accordance with its production. If the temperature thereafter faces below popping temperature, e.g. due to the introduction of fresh cold kernels, thermoswitch 134 accordingly temporarily cuts motor 106 and the feed. In order to reject unpoppable kernels which accumulate during the cycle the various functioning devices are systematically stopped in sequence, allowing convenient intervals, by a timer motor and after a further short delay a door 152 opens and accumulated unpopped kernels fall into basket 48 for disposal ; the door 152 then closes and the next cycle commences. After several cycles, during which time the machine warms up, a tendency for over-heating and for overloading may occur which is checked by a further thermoswitch (not shown) also located in the popping chamber which acts to reduce the heat output of the heater 164 thereby causing a temperature drop which in turn causes thermoswitch 134 to act and reduce the feed of kernels. A further thermoswitch, located in the heater itself, acts similarly to further reduce the heater output in severe cases, and also to prevent overheating at the end of a cycle when kernel feed is terminated and the blower and heater continue to function thereafter for a short time. In addition to the popping, seasoning and salting devices, the machine comprises illuminating light tubes, cooling fans and motors, and it can be adjusted to work at three production rates by operating a switch. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 827,652.